C++ IDE for Windows XP?

Hi!

I'm new here. I've read a book on C++ and want to get programming. I want a compiler (IDE?) to run on windows and read that bloodshed dev 4 was recommended as it is free and easy to use. But it doesn't say windows XP on version 4, and version 5 is a beta version. Does this matter? Can anyone recommend how to get me started? Oh, and I don't have broadband if that makes a difference.

I'm new here. I've read a book on C++ and want to get programming. I want a compiler (IDE?) to run on windows and read that bloodshed dev 4 was recommended as it is free and easy to use. But it doesn't say windows XP on version 4, and version 5 is a beta version. Does this matter? Can anyone recommend how to get me started? Oh, and I don't have broadband if that makes a difference.

Thanks,
Lucy
xx

Dev-Cpp is free and solid IDE for windows.
You can download it fromwww.bloodshed.net
I use 4.9.9.2 (5.0 beta) and don't have any problems

- Micko

Gotta love the "please fix this for me, but I'm not going to tell you which functions we're allowed to use" posts.
It's like teaching people to walk by first breaking their legs - muppet teachers! - Salem

Visual Studio 8 2005 is really worth it, in my opinion. It has some really great features and a lot of project options and project optimizations. And when you compile a program the size is very small. i've gotten up to 200kb smaller size then the size of Visual Studio .NET 2003, and im not sure about this but i believe VS.NET 03 compiles programs a lot smaller than Dev C++ and VS6.

Personaly I would stay away from all Microsofts Compiliers, but hey thats just me. I only used Visual BASIC, last MS VS Program i'll ever use.

VB was indeed a steaming pile of evil, but if you choose to ignore VC++ that's your loss, dude. Visual Studio 2k3 and 2k5 are some of the best conformant optimising compilers out there and the IDE puts everything else I've tried to shame.

plus it's almost the industry standard development environment, (at least in most of the places I've worked). If you want a job programming C++ in a windows environment, learn to like it!

"I saw a sign that said 'Drink Canada Dry', so I started"
-- Brendan Behan